Animal trap



H. J. HUGHEY.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED JUHE 7, 1 921.

1,424,307 Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

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ANIMAL Tan;

Specification of Letters Patent.

hatenteol Aug. It, 1922.

Application filedlune 7, 1921. Serial No. fifiifia f To all whom it mayconcern;

Be it known that I, Hnennr, a citizen of the United States, residing atJackman, in the county of Somerset, State of Maine, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Animal Traps; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same. a

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in traps andparticularly to animal traps.

One object of the invention is to provide a trap which will be effectivein killing and holding the game, and which can be easily and quickly setwithout danger to the operator.

Another object is to provide a trap of this character which can beregulated to operate with a light pressure, for use in catching smallanimals.

Other objects and advantages will be. apparent from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a trap made in accordance with theinvention, the trap being-shown in set position.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional viewthrough the trapspreader being shown in elevation.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the trap, applied to a tree and showingthe combined holder for the bait and releasing device.

Figure d is an end view looking into the jaws of the trap. Referringparticularly tothe accompanying drawing, 10 represents a stiff wire yokewhich includes the arms ill, connected at one end by the integral coil12, and having the other ends bent upwardly and thence downwardly, toform the jaws 13, said jaws being bowed outwardly away from each other,as clearly seen in. the end view Figure 4.

Mounted on the bars, inwardly of'the jaws 13, is a plate 14: having itsends turned upwardly and apertured, as shown at 15, to rotatably supportthe shaft 16. Pivotally supported on the shaft 16 is a lever 17 havingone end formed into a loop 18, which extends between the arms 11,between the plate holder. The other end of thelever 17 has twohorizontal and, oppositely extending arms 19, the extremitiesof whichare turned downwardly, as shown at 20, for engagement with the innerfaces of the arms 11, to hold the said arms, and the jaws thereof, out.wardly, against the tension of the spring coils 12.

/V hen an animalrocks the lever 17, by at tempting to remove the baitfrom the holder, the portions 20 will be released from the arms 11,resulting in the coils 12 suddenly swinging the said arms, and the jaws13 inwardly to grip the animal.

Carried by each arm 11 adjacent jaw 13, is a clip 21, and connected tothe upper portion of eachjaw, and "depending therefrom, with its lowerend detachably connected to the clip, is a ba -2 Whi h n Bfi cfi is thechord of the arc of the aw, and serves to permit the jaw to grip smalleranimals than the full open position of the jaws. I

A double-pronged member 23 is provided to straddle the coils l2, of'theyoke 10, and to be driven into the trunk or limb of a tree,

vhen the device is used for the purpose of trapping small animals whichseek refuge or live in trees, such as the squirrel.

Pivotally supported on the outer end of the member 23is an angle lever,the arm 2d of which normally extends horizontally away from the tree andis provided with barbs 25 for holding the bait, the other arm 2%depending in position to move inwardly against the loop l8,when thelever is rocked to release the jaws.

What is claimed is:

l. A trap comprising a plate having its ends upturned and apertured, ashaft. supported in the upturned ends of the plate, a

lever mounted onthe shaft and havingdownwardly turned end portions, andaspring member including a pair of resilient arms connected at one end byspring coils formed integrally therewith, the other ends of the armsbeing angularly turned and outwardly.

bowedto arovide ri Dl11 'aws said arms being arranged to be engaged andheld under.

spring jaws, means for holding the jaws in separated position attime's,and means for attachment to each of the spring aws at a )OSltIOIlco-incident wlth the chord ofqthe arc thereof to permit the jaws to gripa smaller animal therebetween.

The Combination With a tra havin v a and an an 'l e lever ivoted enthe'attaehin P z; a P a base and a movable trip, of means for anmemberand having one'of its arms formed shor ng the base, and means "inovablycart0 support-bait and its other arm arranged i riedlby the anchoringmeansv for holding, to l'elease the said trip. 15 5 bait andarranged toengage and move the In testimony whereof, I affix'my signagtri p. i v Ir V i ture, in the presence of two itnesses. v 4:. The combination witha tx ap havmg a, a 'HENRY base and a I110VLb16t1p of an anchering meansfor'the trap ineludinga support at- Witnesses I m Liaehingmemherdisposed in embracing rela- CHESTER ITI. MILLS, tionxt o portion of the'base 01": the trap, FLOREANVDUGAQI.

